It's official: all new light vehicles will be required to have backup cameras by May 2018.

According to The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), it has issued a proposed regulation Monday that will require all vehicles with a gross weight rating up to 10,000 pounds to have the backup cameras. This spans cars, SUVs, trucks and vans.

The backup cameras are a result of feedback from consumer groups and families who have or have been affected by a vehicle backing over a child or loved one. Some parents have accidentally backed out of their garage, for example, and did not see their child playing behind the car before doing so. They have called for enhanced auto technology that can allow drivers a clearer view behind the vehicles.

The backup cameras being pushed by the NHTSA will give drivers the ability to see a 10-foot by 20-foot zone directly behind the vehicle.

"We are committed to protecting the most vulnerable victims of back-over accidents—our children and seniors," said Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. "As a father, I can only imagine how heart wrenching these types of accidents can be for families, but we hope that today's rule will serve as a significant step toward reducing these tragic accidents."

NHTSA estimates that 58 to 69 deaths will be prevented annually once the entire road vehicle fleet has the rear-view systems -- which will likely be by about 2054.

The conversation about backup cameras has been ongoing since 2007 when Congress passed a law that ordered the Transportation Department to have a rule regarding backup cameras on light cars and trucks in place by 2011. The original goal was for all light vehicles to be equipped with them by the 2014 model year, but this has been delayed by many public comment periods and other delays.

The legislation would begin phasing backup cameras into 10 percent of vehicles after May 1, 2016 models, 40 percent a year later and 100 percent in May 2018.

In further efforts to prevent annual auto-related deaths, the NHTSA decided in February to require vehicle-to-vehicle communication systems in all new cars and trucks. The DOT and NHTSA have not yet set forth an exact date for when vehicles will be required to implement V2V technology.

If something's behind the car, make warning sounds and flash a red light that says, "Object Behind Vehicle".

But they really don't give a shit about saving lives. Don't kid yourselves. Let's follow the money trail. What Senator or Congressman is taking money from a company that sells rear-view cameras to auto manufacturers?

A form of sonar, similar to what bats use, would be much more effective. Radar requires something to reflect the electromagnetic waves (metal is great, but even doppler weather radar will be reflected by clouds full of water droplets).

However, human beings tend to have a negative effect around radar. Something similar to putting them in a microwave oven, if it's powerful enough. ;)